Robert G. Landers

Robert G. Landers serves as the Advanced Manufacturing Collegiate Professor in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame's College of Engineering. His research spans manufacturing process control, alternative energy systems, and digital control applications, with significant contributions to lithium-ion battery technology and fuel cell systems.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan (1997)
• M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University (1992)
• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma (1990)

Landers' research focuses on the modeling, analysis, monitoring, and control of advanced manufacturing processes including laser metal deposition, glass direct energy deposition, selective laser melting, and wire saw machining. His energy-related work centers on control-oriented modeling, estimation, and control of fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries, with particular emphasis on state-of-charge and state-of-health estimation, fast charging techniques, and smart grid integration. His lab has developed innovative approaches including active disturbance rejection control for fuel cells and advanced observers for battery state estimation.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on battery technology, particularly control-oriented modeling approaches that address both fundamental electrochemical processes and practical implementation challenges. The research shows an evolution from basic electrochemical modeling toward more comprehensive approaches incorporating degradation physics, stress effects, and practical implementation considerations for battery management systems.

Landers actively mentors numerous doctoral and master's students, with over 30 graduate students listed in his academic lineage. His research group maintains strong connections with industry through various sponsored projects and maintains an active recruitment pipeline for postdoctoral scholars and doctoral students. The Landers Research Group operates multiple advanced manufacturing and energy systems laboratories focused on developing control solutions for next-generation manufacturing and energy technologies.